Alarm-clock.



No..893,152. i PATENTED JULY 14, ,1908, W. DUPEN, Jn.

ALARM CLOCK. APPLIGATION FILED MAR. so. 1908.

2 SHBETSFSHEET 1.

UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEErcE.

WILLIAM DUPEN, JR., OF SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA.

ALARM-CLOCK.

To all 'whom it may concern:

-Be it known that I, WILLIAM DUPEN, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing in Sacramento, county of Sacramento, and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Alarm- Olocks, ot which the following is a specification.

The most commonly known alarm clocks are those in which the time-train requires winding each day and in which the alarm mechanism which also requires daily winding is released and sounds continuously until run down as soon as the time to which it is set arrives, whether this be a. m. or p. m. In another class, known as eight-day alarm clocks or those requiring winding only once each week or at periods longer than this, the alarm mechanism is arranged to sound for a brief period only once in 24' hours and such alarm mechanism requires rewinding only when the time mechanism is rewound.

The iirst class of clocks above mentioned have been provided with mechanism whereby during each alarm period the alarm will sound intermittently, the purpose being to sound the alarm for a short time, then stop and sound again, and so on in order that when the clock is used to arouse a sleeper signals will be given at intervals because eX- perience has demonstrated that mechanism operated in this way is more e'lIective than a continuous alarm. This class of clocks is known as repeating alarm clocks.

According to my invention I provide an eight-day clock with `an intermittent or re-k peating alarm wherein the repeating devices are normally disengaged from the time-train and are automatically brought into engagement therewith during the alarm period only.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view llookingirom the iront of an alarm clock of a well known kind to which my improvements are applied. Fig. 2 is a similar view looking from behind, parts being broken away `in order to show other parts. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the clock works with my improved alarm-mechanism applied. Fig. 4 is a view looking at the front of the works with parts broken away and parts shown by dotted lines in order to more clearly illustrate vother parts. Fig. 5 is a diagram illustrating particularly the automatic alarm locking and releasing devices. Fig. 6 is a diagram of the intermittent or repeating mechanism.

Specification 0i1 Letters Patent.

Application filed March 30, 1908.

Patented July 14, 1908.

Serial No. 424,148.

The casing A, the dial C and the hands D, E, may be of any approved construction, as may also the alarm-bell F.

In Fig. 2, a indicates the regulator, l) the key for winding the alarm, c the key for winding the time-train, cl the knob for setting the hands, and c the knob for setting the alarm.

The clock-frame is of the usual kind, indicating the front-plate of the movement G an intermediate plate and H the back-plate thereof. These are connected and held suitably in any approved way and support the working parts of Athe mechanism.

The time-train, of the usual kind, is indicated by the reference letters f, g, g, h, 7L', h2, i, and 7c. l

The train of the alarm-mechanism is indicated by the reference letters I, J K and Il.

m indicates the verge arbor, m the palate or escapement which engages the escapementwheel L of the alarm-train.

In general outlines, the time-train and the alarm-train, as above described, are of the usual kind. The tail M of the hammer M projects transversely across the alarm-train from the arbor m into proper relation with the alarm locking and releasing devices. On the side of the rim of the wheel J ofthe alarmtrain is secured a segmental stop spring N whose outer end is normally withdrawn from the side of the wheel, as shown inFig. 5, and which is formed with an inwardly projecting tooth 'n and an outwardly projecting lug n. At times the lug n lies in the path of the hammer-tail M and prevents the alarm from sounding but the wheel J is provided with a radially arranged light stop holding spring n2 which at times engages the tooth n and holds the lug n out of the path of the hammer-tail. An alarm-locking and trippingspring O is secured to the front face of the front-plate G and a tooth 0 on the tree end of this spring extends through an opening 0 in the front-plate and is adapted to enter the path of the hammer-tail and also `to engage Vonce in 24 hours.

time-train. The wheel Q, therefore, revolves once in 12 hours but the Wheel P has twice as many teeth on its periphery as the wheel Q so that when the wheel Q revolves once the wheel P revolves through only one-half of a revolution, that is to say, it requires two rotations of the wheel Q to revolve the Wheel P once and therefore the wheel P `revolves The wheel P is mounted to revolve loosely on a shaft P which eX- tends through the back-plate H and carries the knob e on its rear end. To the front end of the shaft P is rigidly secured a collar p2 formed with a laterally projecting arm p3, which engages a cam R, fixed to the wheel P and revolving therewith. This cam has a recess r extending from a straight. shoulder r and having an inclined bottom portion 'r2 which extends from the inner end of the shoulder to the periphery or outer edge of the cam. As the hour-hand arbor is revolved by the time mechanism, the wheel Q is correspondingly revolvedwhich imparts to the wheel P a rotary movement. This Wheel P is free to slide on the shaft P to a limited extent. When the arm p3 is ,in the deepest part of the recess r, the wheel P allows the outer end of the spring O to move forward and remove the tooth 0 from engagement with the lug n and stand out of the path of the hammer-tail but when the arm p3 is on the highest part of the cam the tooth o is made to press against the lug n, move it out ofthe path of the hammer-tail and stand in the path of the hammer-tail.

By turning the knob e the alarm may b'e made to sound at any desired time in the usual way. At the time of setting, the lug n will be in the path of the hammer-tail and will prevent it from vibrating. As the time-train operates, the wheel P will be revolved and will cause the tooth 0 to press the lug n out of the path of the hammer-tail and cause the tooth n of the spring N to engage the light spring n2 which will hold it close to the side of the wheel J. At the same time the tooth o passes into the path of the hammer-tail and prevents the alarm- Amechanism from operating and hence the wheel J does not, at this time, rotate. As soon as 24 hours have elapsed, the arm p3 falls from the shoulderr, allowing the wheel P to move forwards and the spring O to do likewise. This movement withdraws the tooth 0 from the path ofthe hammer-tail and the alarm-mechanism can operate inasmuch as the lug n is held by the light spring m2 out of the way. The alarm will thus continue to sound until the lug n again moves into the path of the hammer-tail. As the wheel J revolves the light spring n2 is engaged by a pin n4, projecting inwardly from the bottom portion of the front-plate of the movement frame, as indicated in Fig. 5. When the spring n2 is thus withdrawn from yas soon as the whee engagement with the spring N, the free end of the latter springs outward and the lug n will then be in the ath of the hammer-tail PJ has made a complete revolution and at this time the movement of the alarm-train will be stopped and will be thus held until the lug is moved away by the tooth o which then, itself, arrests the alarm-mechanism in the manner before eX- plained. It will thus be seen that the alarmmechanism is arrested temporarily by one device but is held for a longer period by anj other device which, when released, lallows the alarm to soundand the alarm is then arrested by the -first-mentioned device which holds the alarm silent until the other device can come into operation. By the mechanism described an alarm may be sounded once in 24 hours and the force of the spring is only partially expended each time, so that the alarm-train with one winding may be made to operate for a number of days.

The alarm-mechanism 'which I have shown is made to run 18 days with one winding while the time-train shown is intended for 10 days but it is 'obvious that the time-train and the alarm-'train may be made to operate for any desired number of days within reasonable limits.

In order to prevent the alarm from sounding automatically the usual stop -lever S may be employed. This is shown in Fig. 2.

As thus far described, each time that the alarm is sounded, the ringing of the bell will be continuous until the Wheel J has made a complete revolution but eX erience has demonstrated that it is desira le that the alarm should be vintermittent during the alarm period, that is to say that it should ring at first for a short time, then stop, then ring again for a short time Vand so on, because if the clock is used to awaken a sleeper, it often happens that the sleeper while partially aroused, erhaps, by the first few taps of the bell, will) not arise, but immediately becomes accustomed to the ringing of the bell, falls off to sleep again and over-sleeps his time, but if the bell rings for a short time, then stops and then rings again, the second or third alarm, it is found by experience, will thoroughly arouse the sleeper and therefore this class of repeating alarmclocks have gone into very extensive use.

The mechanism which I have provided to make the alarm intermittent is of very simple construction and is shown most clearly yin Fig. 6 of the drawings. It is also indicated in Fig. 4,in which figure T indicates aratchetwheel attached to the shaft or arbor of one of the wheels of the time-train. This ratchetwheel is adapted to coperate with a pawl U, pivoted at u to the front-plate GV and provided With a long arm u', .projecting at times into the path of the hammer-tail M. A spring u2 tends to press the pawl U into engagement with the ratchet-wheel T. The outer end of the arm u is adapted, at times, to engage a pin 'w3 projecting from the wheel J. Outside ofthe alarm period the pawl U is held out of the path of rotation of the ratchetwheel T by the pin a3, the wheel J being at that time in the position shown in Fig. 5 to arrest the alarm-mechanism or hold it from out of operation so that the time-train is normally relieved from the strain orwork imposed by engagement of the pawl U with the time-train but when the wheel J has moved to withdraw the pin a3 from engagement with the arm ad of the pawl, the pawl is by means of the spring u2, made to engage the ratchet-Wheel T. The arrangement, however, is such that when thus engaged the pawl U will be moved about its pivot u so that at times the outer end of the arm u is held in the path of the hammer-tail and at other times it is withdrawn from such path and this occurs repeatedly during the alarm period, that is, during a single rotation of the wheel J, so that the ringing of the alarm-bell is made intermittent and the alarm is repeated at intervals during the desired period and after this period has elapsed the alarmtrain' is locked by the devices before described, while the pawl U is moved out of the path of the ratchet-wheel T and the time-train is thus relieved. It will thus be seen that I have combined in a single clock, alarmmechanism which will operate without rewinding for 8 days or more, will sound once only in 24 hours, will give an intermittent alarm during the alarm period and the timetrain is relieved from strain at all times outside of the alarm period.

My improvements do not necessitate much change in the ordinary construction of alarm clocks. The additions which I have made to accomplish the objects of my invention are simple in the extreme and quite inexpensive.

While I have illustrated and described-the simplest and best Way now known to me of embodying my invention, I wish it understood that various changes may obviously be made without departingl from the novel features of my improvements as specified in the claims.

The alarm dial shown is so arranged that the alarm can be set conveniently for any hour during the twenty-four, a. m. or p. m., so that one who sleeps during the day and Wishes to be aroused in the afternoon or evening, can easily set the alarm for the proper time, and likewise, one who wishes to be aroused in the morning can properly set the alarm without danger of mistake.

The devices which I employ for producing an intermittent or repeating alarm are simple and reliable and are released immediately after the alarm period has expired so as to take the strain oif of the time mechanism immediately after this period.

I claim as my inventionz'- v 1. An .alarm-clock comprising" an eightday time-train, alarm-mechanism adapted to sound once in 24 hours for a comparatively brief period, devices operated by the timetrain for causing the alarm to sound intermittently during the alarm-period and means for disconnecting these last-mentioned devices from the time-train except during the alarm-period.

2. An alarm clock comprising a time train, alarm mechanism adapted to operate for a plurality of days without rewinding, devices operated by the time train for causing the alarm to sound intermittently during each y.

alarm period and means for withdrawing said devices from engagement with the time train immediately at the close of each alarm period.

3. An alarm-clock comprising a time-train,

an alarm-train, an alarm-bell, a hammer cooperating with the bell, devices carried by the alarm-train for preventing vibration of the hammer and means operated by the timetrain for forcing said devices out of the path of the hammer and which then hold the hammer against vibration.

4. An alarm-clock comprising a timetrain, an alarm-train, a bell, its hammer, devices carried by the alarm-train for at times preventing the alarm from sounding, and another device operated by the time train for moving said devices carried by the alarmtrain out of the path of the hammer and which itself moves into the path of the hammer and prevents the alarm from sounding'.

5. An alarm-clock comprising a time-train, an alarm-train, a device carried by the alarmtrain which for a time prevents the alarm from sounding, another device operated by the time-train which moves the device carried by the alarm-train out of the path ofthe hammer and means for holding the device operated by the time-train in the path of the hammer for a time and for then withdrawing 1 it and permitting the alarm to sound.

6. An alarm-clock comprising a timetrain, an alarm-train, a hammer, a stopspring carried by one of the wheels of the alarm-train and adapted to engage the hammer to prevent the sounding of the alarm, a stop-holding-spring carried by the same Wheel which holds said stop-spring, at times, out of the path of the hammer and a lockingspring operated by the time-train for moving the stop-spring out of the path of the hammer and into engagement with the stop-holding-spring and which itself moves into the path of the hammer and means for at the proper time withdrawing said locking-spring out of the path of the hammer to permit the alarm to sound.

7. An alarmclock comprising a timetrain, an alarm-train, a stop-spring carried by one of thewheels of the alarm-train, a

stop-holding-spring carried by said wheel adapted to engage said stop-spring, means for releasing the stop-holding spring from the stop-spring as the wheel which carries said springs rotates and a locking-spring operated by the time-mechanism for moving the stop-spring out of the path of' the hammer and which is itself at the proper time withdrawn from said path.

8. An alarm-clock comprising a time-train7 an alarm-train, a segmental spring attached to one of the wheels ofthe alarm-train and provided at its free end with a tooth and a lug, a light spring carried by the same wheel adapted to engage the tooth of the segmental spring, means for at the proper time releasing said light spring from the segmental spring and a spring-arm operated by. the time-train provided with a tooth adapted to pass into the path of the hammer and to move l the lug of the segmental spring out of said path.

9. An alarm-clock comprising a timetrain, an alarm-train, a stop-'spring carried by one of the wheels of the alarm-train, a spring on said wheel adapted to hold the stop-spring out of the path of the hammer for a part of the revolution of said wheel, devices for releasing the stop-spring and permitting it to move into the path of the hammer during a single revolution of said wheel and means operated by the time-train for moving said stop-spring out of the path of the hammer and which itself locks the hammer until the alarm-period has arrived.

10. An alarm-clock comprising a timetrain, an alarm-train, devices for causing the alarm to sound once in 24 hours means operated by the timetrain for causing `the alarm tosound intermittently during the alarm-period and means operated by the alarm-train for relieving the time-train from the strain of the alarm intermitting devices -when the alarm is not sounding'.

l1. An alarm-clock comprising a timetrain7 an alarm-trainI means carried by one of the wheels of the alarm-train for temporarily stopping the alarm-mechanism, other means operated by the time-train for throwing said lirst-mentioned stopping-devices out of operation and for locking the alarm-train until the alarm-period has arrived, means operated by the time-train for causing the alarm to sound intermittently during the alarm-period and means operated by the alarm-train for throwing said alarm intermitting-devices out of operation except during the alarm-period.

12. An alarm-clock comprising a timetrain, an alarm-train, an alarm-hammer adapted to be locked by devices carried by the alarm-train. and by devices operated by the time-train, a ratchet-wheel operated by the time-train, a pawl adapted to engage therewith, an arm projecting from the pawl and adapted at times to enter the path of the hammer and a device moved by the alarm-train for throwing the pawl out of engagement with the ratchet-wheel except during the alarm-period.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

VLLIAM DUPEN, JR.

Vitne'sses HARRY THORP, A. BONNHEIM. 

